ckao03 - Tumblr blog

[ckao03]

Repainting your ROTTMNT action figure - Part 2B (Soft plastic prep)

You'll be doing the same kind of sanding in this step as the hard plastic, but soft pieces have some small differences in sanding and painting...

Action figures are commonly made with a second kind of rubberized plastic for parts that require extra flexibility (Rise/MM masks, mask tails, belts, Donnie's elbow/knee pads...). This material is a little harder to buff scratches out of.

The tiny molded eyebrows had to go.

Much of this can be filled in with Clear Coat in the next step, so don't sweat it if you want to skip this part.

Once you've gone through all your sanding grits, you can use a hair dryer or heat gun to VERY. SLOWLY. AND CAREFULLY... Heat up the figure. The idea is to very slightly melt the surface plastic just enough to smooth it out.

Never point the heat source directly at the piece. Instead, sweep over the area until it gradually warms up and begins to soften ever so slightly and the scratches begin to fade a little. Keep a bowl of ice water handy to dunk your figure to cool it down quickly if needed.

You won't see a drastic change and the tiniest scratches remaining will be filled in the next step, so don't aim for a completely perfect surface. If you want to skip this step, that's fine. It can be intimidating!

(Donnie's goggles can melt very quickly, watch out for this. And please don't burn yourself!)

[ckao03]

Repainting your ROTTMNT action figure - 2A (Hard plastic prep)

Prep

Soft and hard plastics behave a little differently, hence the two parts to this section...

You'll need: Beginner mode:

Sandpaper or sanding sponges in the following grits: 220/280, 600, 800

Advanced mode:

Sandpaper or sanding sponges: 180, 220/280, 600, 800, 1000, and a melamine sponge (roughly equivalent to 3000 Grit) Note: The goal for advanced mode is to create an absolutely smooth and level surface required for painting with layered clear colors. The clear colors I use (lacquers and enamels) are not beginner friendly; they are toxic and require good ventilation and an appropriately rated respirator. Unless you are equipped for this, sticking with beginner mode is fine :)

Removing seamlines goes a long way in improving the overall look. Seamlines are the raised edges of plastic leftover from the molding process from when the figure was made. You can also remove the copyright stamps found on the belts on the 5" TMNT figures.

Finished Donnie on the left, untouched Leo on the right.

This Donnie is from the Mutant Mayhem line.

In a circular motion, lightly sand the seam down, moving from lowest number of Grit to highest. The circular motion is important; it will lower the raises edges from all angles. Sanding back and forth in a straight line will gouge grooves into your figure; you want to avoid this.

The lower grits serve to erase these line more quickly, while the higher number grits will polish out the roughness left behind and leave a smoother surface. So, yes, you'll be sanding and resanding the same areas multiple times to get an even surface. There will be some lighter colored scuffing left behind once you are done with your highest level grit. The clear coating in the next step will help with this.

This can be QUITE tedious, so for a beginner, I think it's fine to just use the three level of grits mentioned at the beginning; it's very easy to get burnt out and bored. A good podcast or playlist helps immensely!

[ckao03]

Repainting your ROTTMNT action figure -Master Post

I don't normally use tumblr, let me know if any of this is wrong/not working, lol Will be updated as I go, these are also posted on my X/Twitter under ckao_03 If anyone has any questions, let me know!

Part 1 - Cleaning

Part 2A - Hard Plastic Prep Part 2B - Soft Plastic Prep

[ckao03]

Repainting your ROTTMNT action figure - Part 1

Cleaning

You'll need:

Your chosen turtle

Dish soap

A melamine sponge (also known as a Mr Clean Magic Eraser. A regular sponge is also fine).

I'll be using #rottmntrepaint for all parts of this tutorial, also posted on my X/Twitter.

These ones were bought used. They've sustained some damage from extensive play...

The first thing to do is clean your action figure. If you bought a new one, you're removing residual mold release from the manufacturing process. If it's a used one, you're also cleaning off finger oils, debris and scuff marks. Either way, a good scrub will help your paint adhere.

Submerge your turtle in warm soapy water and give it a good scrub down. If there are scuff marks, a melamine sponge will remove those fairly easily. They are also able to strip paint, so if there's a color you'd like to keep, like Leo's markings for example, scrub with care.

Red eared sliders typically enjoy water temperature between 75-85F.

Looking better already

Rinse your turtle and dry them off for the next step. (If you're painting ones from the Giant line, they are hollow inside. Expect hidden water to escape for a while!)

[ckao03]

Part 1, 2 and 2b are up on X/Twitter! I'll make a Tumblr version later (I really need to sleep...)

https://twitter.com/ckao_03/status/1774680192528826559?t=x4HHjQdpuyQi1bdesRcjbg&s=19

Use #rottmntrepaint to find all the posts.

Can you do tutorials of how to repaint the rottmnt action figures

Sure! 😄

I'll be pretty busy for the next two weeks or so, so I'll most likely upload them in parts (Prep work, priming, painting, details, etc...).

Should be able to have part one up this weekend!

I post more frequently on X/Twitter, including some additional WIP pics of Donnie and Mikey, if you want to check there in the meantime.

@servalmutant tagging you, cause I'm not sure if you'll get notified through answers, lol

[ckao03]

Can you do tutorials of how to repaint the rottmnt action figures

Sure! 😄

I'll be pretty busy for the next two weeks or so, so I'll most likely upload them in parts (Prep work, priming, painting, details, etc...).

Should be able to have part one up this weekend!

I post more frequently on X/Twitter, including some additional WIP pics of Donnie and Mikey, if you want to check there in the meantime.

@servalmutant tagging you, cause I'm not sure if you'll get notified through answers, lol

[ckao03]

Something I made while dealing with my own stuff and hoping drawing this would pick me up somehow. Maybe it worked.

FT my cat. His name is Mischief

[ckao03]

goodnight everyone (:

do your daily click

spreadsheet of families in Gaza you can help today

donate to:

Buy an e-sim

Help diabetics in Gaza

The PCRF

Anera

UNRWA

Taawon

Help Gaza Children

Sudan Tarada Initiative

Help a Sudanese family escape conflict

Darfur Women Action

Ramadan for Sudan

Period products in Sudan

Sudan Emergency Appeal

[ckao03]

Little Mikey update...

[ckao03]

Ooooh, I love these so much!

First Raph draft print is completed and there’s plenty to fix for the final print (so weapons and spikes won’t break) 😅😅😅

[ckao03]

Finished repainting Rise Donnie! 🥳 Mikey is well underway.

...and then I had some fun with accessories.

[ckao03]

As far as I know, this is the first new TMNT product with Rise involved since the Rise Complete Adventures comic compilation. Please pre-order a copy either online or at your local comic book shop when it is possible to do so to show your interest, and maybe shoot IDW Publishing a message requesting more Rise!

GUYS THEYRE MAKING AN OFFICIAL CROSSOVER COMIC. THIS IS NOT A FUCKING DRILL.

ISSUE 13 OF SATURDAY MORNING ADVENTURES DROPPING IN JUNE.

[ckao03]

Before and currently... Getting close to the end!

Another WIP, cause I'm just too excited about how this is going

[ckao03]

Fixing up some (very) used Rise Playmates toys I bought.

Donnie goes first. So far, I've cleaned up the scuffs, most of the marker on his eye, removed some seamlines/issues, added shading and new socks/glove paint.

Can't wait to really fix up Mikey; it seems the previous owner tried to pick out his eyes.

[ckao03]

This is amazing!!

I finished my Leo sculpture!

And a tiny Jupiter Jim comic taken straight from the movie :)

Sculpting process

[ckao03]

Spike Spiegel - Cowboy Bebop

Sculpted by NomnomFigures

Painted with Mr Hobby lacquers, Tamiya enamels and Vallejo acrylics

I got a new lamp today, so now I can see better when I paint! I can now see all my errors! 🥲

[ckao03]

Spinel - Steven Universe The Movie

Just a quick one. Minor defect in the base, but it's just for me, so I don't mind 🙂

Sculpted by Jarguare

Painted with Mr Hobby Lacquers, Tamiya enamels and Vallejo acrylics